The NHL preseason has begun, bringing excitement to fans after a summer without hockey. All 32 teams are back on the ice, yet the relevance of preseason games is under debate. While preseason provides a chance to watch hockey, some argue the games lack excitement and necessity.

Rod Brind’Amour, head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, champions eliminating the preseason. He believes players prefer to start competitive play without preliminary games. “Guys just want to play. Guys just want to drop the puck and start for real,” Brind’Amour explained during an appearance on TSN’s “Overdrive.” He asserted that practicing is not a favorite task among players.

Allen Iverson famously noted the futility of discussing practice: “Not a game, not a game… we’re talkin’ practice, man.”

Changes are already underway. The NHL’s current collective bargaining agreement reduced the preseason from six games to four, adding those to the regular season, now up to 84 games. Despite this, Brind’Amour suggests there’s more to be done, stating, “Meaningless games on the fans” aren’t worthwhile.

In Brind’Amour’s view, preseason games rarely impact team roster decisions anymore. “There were always spots available,” he remembered. “That doesn’t happen now, hardly ever. The team’s picked.” Most players are already secure in their positions before preseason begins.

Although some call for further reduction or elimination of preseason games, there are still potential benefits. The NHL uses preseason for neutral site games in regions without NHL teams. Recently, the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers played in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and the Ottawa Senators faced the Montreal Canadiens in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. These events offer fans a more affordable opportunity to witness NHL players, potentially attracting new fans.

Author Matthew Reigle writes for OutKick.